A woman has claimed a doctor sexually assaulted her as a teenager after she complained of a head cold.

A court was told Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 55, touched her breasts and vagina after he was called to treat a sick relative of the teen at her home.

The GP, of Lombardstown in Mallow, Co Cork, denies indecent assault of the girl in 1989 and told a judge: “As far as I am concerned, it never happened.”

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard the alleged victim, in her mid teens at the time, was feeling ill and since Dr Mulcahy was in her house, it was decided he would examine her flu-like symptoms.

The doctor and teenager went to a bedroom in the house and a physical examination began on a settee. The woman, now in her late 30s, gave evidence she became upset about a family matter and the GP comforted her by putting his arms around her and hugging her.

The doctor then checked her with a stethoscope before asking her permission to carry out a breast examination.

He allegedly told her he was carrying out the examination in order to check for lumps or irregularities.

The alleged victim said Dr Mulcahy then asked her questions such as, “Did I understand what sex was?” and “Did I have a boyfriend?”

She added: “He asked if I had ever been kissed. He asked me to describe what sex was about. I had no sexual experience whatsoever. I didn’t have a boyfriend. I had never been kissed.”

The woman stated that the GP then started rubbing her vagina outside her clothes. She estimated the alleged assault took around 10 minutes.

The woman said: “I really didn’t know how to react or what to think.

“I was in shock. I was trying to make sense of it in my own head. I felt I couldn’t tell anyone. There was so much going on and I couldn’t add to the stress or strain in the house at the time.”

She made a complaint to gardai on October 2, 2010.

Dr Mulcahy told Judge Sean O’Donnabhain he was “deeply shocked and greatly distressed” by the allegations.

He added: “I have seen hundreds and thousands of patients over the years.

“I have no recollection of what she stated here today. As far as I am concerned it never happened, she is not correct.”

The jury of four women and eight men will consider their verdict today.